Rugby World Cup: England primed to escape a mugging

'No one's ever won a World Cup losing a game, so we know what's ahead of us' says English fullback Ben Foden. Photo / Getty Images

Knockout rugby has come a week early for Scotland, so their oldest enemies know they'll have to treat their Pool B finale with the same fervour to avoid a mugging.

England can lose and still progress into the quarter-finals as long as they finish within seven points of their Calcutta Cup rivals, but it is not a comfort zone they have any interest in testing.

"We know we need to win the game. We want to finish top of the group and take through a winning attitude," said fullback Ben Foden.

"No one's ever won a World Cup losing a game, so we know what's ahead of us."

On the evidence at hand , the Scots should pose little threat to England.

Much has been made of the "grief" they felt at having lost to Argentina, but the simple fact was that 79 minutes and 30s of dominance resulted in just two penalties and two drop goals.

The conditions mitigated against a try-fest and the final 10 minutes were pulsating, but that should not blind anyone to the fact the preceding 70 minutes were played with the imagination synapses lobotomised.

Unless it was a well-constructed front, England have a high regard for Scotland and their game-breaking ability. It is respect earned after countless down-to-the-wire Six Nations contests.

"They've got players who are capable of creating something and scoring tries. They've got Max Evans and the Lamonts, [Chris] Paterson - they're all known for breaking tackles and scoring tries," Foden said.

All the same, he's expecting it to be a game that could be decided by a goal.

"We've got to be wary of that. On their day, if they get things right, [Scotland coach] Andy Robinson has got them prepared to slug it out and they can mix it up with anyone."

It would be the first time Scotland had failed to do that in seven Cups.

"It's a knockout game for them. Their quarter-finals have started early. They're going to focus on this match as if it's their World Cup final. It's a be-all, end-all game for them."

It's now up to England to match that intensity.